Bermuda's top amateur golfers are hoping their quest for World Championship glory is not bunkered by red tape.

The team of Michael Sims, Dave Purcell, Robbie Spurling and Nick Mansell are due to head off for Berlin with non-playing captain Bob Legere this weekend for the World Amateur Team Championship.

But before they can swing their first club in anger they will have to overcome a last minute adminstrative problem.

Purcell, a replacement for Tim Carr who pulled out because his wife was due to give birth, is facing a problem getting into Germany.

While a status Bermudian, he does not have a Bermudian passport and it is possible he may not be allowed into the country to compete in the event which runs from August 31 to September 3.

Legere said: "He's on top of it. He is going through the proper procedure of getting a visa and I think it's just a matter of timing.

"We have our fingers crossed that it gets back to him before Friday when we depart. We are quite confident it is going to be approved, it's just whether or not it's going to be in our hands by Friday so that he can board the plane with the rest of the team.'' As for the team's chances, Legere admitted it would be tough as Bermuda would be up against more than 100 other nations.

"I think it's going to be a very interesting tournament for the fact that we are playing two completely different golf courses,'' he said.

"One is a links course designed by Nick Faldo and the other is a traditional American course designed by Arnold Palmer -- one emphasising more target golf and the other one emphasising shot making ability.'' Legere is rules chairman for Bermuda Golf Association and believes his experience in that role will help the cause.

"Hopefully my knowledge of the rules and of different conditions will benefit the team,'' he said.

Several years ago as president of Bermuda Junior Golf Association, Legere took Spurling and Sims to the Junior Tournament Players Championship in Ohio.

"That particular year the Bermuda junior golf team won the overall tournament as well as every age division,'' Legere said.

"So two of the members that have proved themselves several years ago in junior tournaments are now travelling to Germany to represent the country.'' Mansell, current superintendent at Ocean View, also came up through the Bermuda Junior Golf programme.

"I think we have a strong team,'' Legere said. "I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch but I think we are going to do well.

"We definitely have two great junior players that are very experienced having played in a lot of tournaments.

"A year ago Michael Sims was voted the New England Collegiate Player of the Year. He attends the University of Rhode Island and has developed quite a golf resume.

"He has the ability to shoot some real low numbers, so hopefully he'll have his A game for the tournament. I think it's going to be exciting,'' he said.